a word of warning to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
There is a false belief, in the Church today, that the Prophet, and those called to be in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, can never lead people astray. The belief is that God would never allow it.
If God never allowed a man to choose, wouldn’t that violate a very foundational principle of the Gospel, which is free agency? Our Father in Heaven is not into iron-handed control, for He allows every soul to choose, good or evil, even the Prophet called to lead the Church. Then, in turn, the people can choose whether the words He speaks are good or evil. This is the pattern established since the beginning, and our God is unchangeable in His laws.
The source of this false belief is “Official Declaration 1” by President Wilford Woodruff. It is tucked behind the Doctrine and Covenants, and is described as “Excerpts from Three Addresses by President Wilford Woodruff Regarding the Manifesto.”
“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty”
I will not delve deeply into the topic of polygamy today, but I will point out the irony in President Woodruff’s statement ending the practice of polygamy, which Brigham Young introduced in 1856. The Prophets today have denounced that doctrine, and Joseph Smith denounced the doctrine in the 1835 and 1844 editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.
In the last forty years, the Church has really emphasized the doctrine of infallibility of the Prophets. Today, unfortunately, most members of the Church are so steeped in the tradition, and willingly accept it because it relieves them of the burden of verifying the truth of all things.
Where can we find clarity on the issue? It is within the written records, the word of God, which He has prepared for our use to keep us from being led astray. This is the testimony of Nephi:
1 Nephi 19:3
And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord.
The records are kept that they may be the “iron rod” upon which we might rely to guide us along the straight and narrow path which Lehi saw in a dream.
When Jesus visited the Nephites, He commanded them to study Isaiah, exclaiming that those words were great. There was a purpose behind that counsel, in helping prepare a people who were worthy to meet Him when He comes again. Isaiah teaches extensively of this “remnant,” who are reclaimed after the judgments of God fall on those that claim membership in the Church. In fact, the very first chapter, Isaiah gets to the point in calling the people of God to repentance.
Isaiah 1
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
5 ¶ Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Given that the “head” is sick and there is no soundness in it, of those who are of the Lord’s church, we must understand that applies to the leaders of the Church. Should that astonish and anger us? Have we not, throughout the eons of scriptural history, a record testifying that the people of the Lord are led astray over and over. If that were not so, would there not have been a Church filled with righteousness at the birth of the baby, Jesus?
One notable example that the people that had not been led by righteous Prophets is found in the Book of Mormon. It is clear that even though calling of Prophet was still in use, the people fell into sin prior to the visit of an Angel of the Lord to King Mosiah. He expounded the truths he received, from this Heavenly Messenger, in his great address to his people. Alma, who had been a witness to the death of Abinadi, repented and was called of God to establish the Church again. It was some period of time before Alma, and those who had escaped King Noah, were reunited with the Nephites under King Mosiah. It was there, that Alma restored and established the Church. This is explained in Mosiah 29:47, “and thus ended the days of Alma, who was the founder of their church.”
In the following passage, we find the doctrines in the Bible and Book of Mormon explained with clarity, so that there is no misunderstanding.
39 And in this thing did the Peacemaker teach us all a great lesson. It is true that the Peacemaker does call out Prophets from among the people. But, let not any people begin in the belief that the calling out makes a man not a man.
40 The Prophet of the Peacemaker is given great gifts of the Holy Ghost. Yea, he may speak with the tongues of Angels and with them, and, if he has the gift of the seer, he may translate strange languages.
41 And behold, the Prophet leads and guides the people in the will and work of the Peacemaker also. But, know this all you who read these things and ponder them in your hearts, the Prophet is fallible.
42 He is not perfect, and his counsels are not perfect. And, though we count ourselves blessed because the Peacemaker does see fit to call and raise up unto us His Prophets, it is because He does this that we feel constrained to subject all things unto the confirmation of the Holy Ghost, howbeit even the words of a Prophet.
43 Behold, the Peacemaker has spoken it: Thou shalt make no other gods before me. Wherefore, make not gods of your Prophets! For they will be false gods and idols.
44 For, even if they be called of the Peacemaker and appointed, yea, even if they be anointed by the very finger of the Peacemaker, they are yet simple men and you will have made unto yourselves gods that shall fall. Second book of Tsh Muhayl, Nemenhah.
The Lord pronounces a Woe upon the false shepherds in the Last Days. He will set up His Servant, David, to rule over the remnant of His people, after the judgement of Israel. This passage is recorded in Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 23:1-5 ESV
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.
2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.
3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.
4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.
5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
As I love the Lord, and seek to do His will, I invite those who have made idols of the Prophets of the Church to repent and come unto the Savior, accepting His word as the final say and the truth in this matter. This can, and will, be confirmed by the Holy Ghost as we open our hearts to truly Hear Him.
Following are a few, of many, more scriptural passages that attest to the possibility that a Prophet can lead the people astray in the Church.
Jeremiah 5 ESV
11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the Lord.
12 They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine.
13 The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!'”
30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land:
31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Luke 6:26 ESV
26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Mark 7:6-9 ESV
6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!